THE
AVESTA AT A GLANCE, by Ali A.
Jafarey, the latest publication by Books N Bits is just out. The book describes
in brief, in 86 pages, the *ten-time* contents of the extant Avesta, which, with
the exception of the Gathas of Zarathushtra, is still a closed book, a mystery
to many admirers and inquirers.

The
extant Avesta is the remaining part of the Zoroastrian canon of 21 volumes. It
has been collected sometimes after the downfall of the Sassanian Empire. It is
believed to represent a purely religious scripture. The "Glance" shows
that it is a salvage of the collection of the original doctrine of the Good
Religion, and the later additions of prayers,
spells, rituals, customs, culture, poetic patterns, prosaic pieces,
prescriptions, proscriptions, civil life, agricultural advice, medical matters,
epic, legend, history, geography and other related subjects.It shows the purity and sublimity of the Gathic texts. It
reflects the Iranian heritage, a colorful heritage which in the past warranted
all these subjects because of the time, place, and inside and outside
influences.